Mr. & Mrs. Moshe Fishman in honor of their anniversary. May they have many more happy years together.
Also for the yahrtzeits of Mr. Moshe Fishman's mother Malka Leah bas Efraim Zalman and stepmother Ruth Gittel bas Meir ob”m. May the neshomos have an aliya.

Together With:Rabbi & Mrs. Naftoi Estulin for the yahrtzeit of Rabbi Naftoli Estulin’s mother Raizel bas Chaim Binyomin Halevi ob”m. May the neshomo have an aliya.Rabbi & Mrs. Mendy Greenbaum in honor of Rabbi Mendy Greenbaum’s birthday. May he have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus.Mr. & Mrs. Avrohom Plotkin for the yahrtzeit of Mrs. Shoshana Plotkin’s father Yitzchak Aharon ben Aharon ob”m. May the neshomo have an aliya.Rabbi & Mrs. Michy Rav-Noy in honor of their 13th anniversary. May they have many more happy years together.Mr. & Mrs. Berl Sroka in honor of Mr. Berl Sroka’s birthday. May he have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus.

In this week’s parsha the Torah discusses the laws of mishpatim. In general, the mitzvos of the Torah are divided in three categories. First there are chukim, decrees. Had the Torah not been given we would not have known about them because they are not derived from intellect or anything else that relates to our world. Even after they were given we still do not comprehend them. The second are eidus, which we also would not have known, but now that we have them we understand them. And then there are mishpatim which are based on intellect and any human being would have understood that they are necessary for civilized living even without the giving of the Torah.

The mitzvos should have appeared in the Torah following Matan Torah in parshas Yisro in the above mentioned order, staring with chukim, then eidus, then mishpatim. Even though mishpatim are kept because they were given on Sinai, still it would fit to first mention those that are purely based on emunah, above intellect, and then progress to those that have additional aspects of understanding.

The Rebbe also asks why the parsha named Mishpatim, whose theme is the category of mitzvos that are understood, contain the law of basar v’cholov- not mixing meat and milk which is in the category of chukim.

To answer these questions we need to first understand the difference between before and after Matan Torah. The Rebbe explains that Matan Torah enabled the lower dimension to become be elevated to the higher, and the higher dimension to be drawn down to the lower. Why wasn’t it enough just to bring the higher dimension down? Because the intention wasn’t just to have the lower be subsumed within the higher, but it is necessary to elevate the lower from within its own definitions and serve as a vessel for the higher.

This process began with Matan Torah when Hashem came down onto Har Sinai. But at that point the world was overwhelmed. Only afterwards did the avodah of the lower begin, to connect from within the confines of its existence with the higher. In that sense Parshas Yisro is about the Elyon-the higher descending and parshas Mishpatim was the beginning of the process of refining the lower world.

This dynamic is reflected within the individual in emunah and sechel- faith and intellect. Emunah is inherited. Sechel is the fruit of our own labors, the toil of our understanding. The order is to begin with emuna, it’s not entirely ours, it’s something that remains beyond the reach of the intellect. As the Shelah HaKodesh explains the pasuk; Elokei Avi- He is the G-d of my Father (inherited), v’erommenu- therefore I will exalt him (because He transcends me). This explanation stands in contrast with the beginning of the verse; “Zeh Keli- He is my G-d”; therefore, “anvehu; ani vhu- He and I are one”. In order to stay the course first the emunah must be in place. Then, all that follows is based upon that emunah, and it makes all that follows a true service.

This is the connection of the parshios of Yisro and Mishpatim. Yisro is about Hashem descending and emunah in Hashem echod. But this pure and powerful revelation caused the entire creation to shake and become still. The bird did not sing and the ox did not gore. Afterward in parshas Mishpatim we began to absorb and integrate through our sechel and our being. When we understand we become one entity; ani vHu. The central intention is to bring down the Torah into our understanding, mishpatim, not to only receive through emunah. As it states “mah elu mSinai af elu mSinai- just as these (the ten commandments were from Sinai) so too these (mishpatim).

This continues until the point that even the chukim become a clear and strong part of the person that the chukim strengthen him in all that he does. The Rebbe explains that this is why the words; Elokei Avi- He is the G-d of my Father (inherited), erommenu- therefore I will exalt him (because He transcends me); follow “Zeh Keli- He is my G-d”; therefore, “anvehu; ani vhu- He and I are one”. Even after the sechel understands Hashem, one needs to return to the emunah, that the emunah should live with the sechel. So too there is an aspect of chukim which follow mishpatim, because through the service of mishpatim they become completely part of the person.

The Rebbe also explains that the first revelation of Chassidus began with the Baal Shem Tov and the Maggid which was revealed on the level of emunah, and then progressed in the generation of the Alter Rebbe into the realm of sechel, which is similar to the order of Yisro and Mishpatim.

Mr. & Mrs. Moshe Fishman for the yahrtzeit of Mr. Fishman’s father Yaakov ben Moshe ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.

Mr. & Mrs. Zalmen Roth for the yahrtzeit of Mrs. Roth’s mother Sheva bas Yitzchok Aizik ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.

Together With:Rabbi & Mrs. Fischel Grossman for the yahrtzeit of R’ Fischel’s grandmother Chaya Soro bas Note Moshe ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.Mr. & Mrs. Chaim Lerner in honor of their anniversary. May they have many more happy years together.Mr. & Mrs. Avrohom Plotkin for the yahrtzeit of Mr. Plotkin’s father Yitzchok ben Nochum Tzvi ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.

The kiddush for the early minyan is sponsored by:

Lazer Handelsman in honor of his birthday. May he have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus.

Mr. Zev Oster for the yahrtzeit of his mother Esther bas Volf ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.

Rabbi & Mrs. Levi Raichik in honor of Lazer Handelsman who through his singing brings so much joy and happiness to all those around him.

Rabbi & Mrs. Yankee Raichik in honor of R’ Yankee’s birthday. May he have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus.

This week’s parsha discusses how a Father-in-Law gives advice to his Son-in-Law. Yisro travelled into the desert to visit with his Son-in -Law Moshe Rabbenu. He saw him judging the entire Jewish people by himself, from morning until night. Yisro let him know “You have a big shul of 600,000 adult men. You need help!” Hashem agreed with Yisro and Moshe appointed a system of judges over groups of ten, hundreds and thousands. Why did Moshe think that he could do it all on his own?

The Rebbe explained that Yisro added a parsha to the Torah. Moshe Rabbenu had a unique approach and Yisro added a new dimension and thereby merited a parsha in the Torah. We find a similar thing by Kabbolos haTorah. Klal Yisroel approached Moshe saying that it was impossible to hear the Torah directly from Hashem. They requested that Moshe receive it, and they in turn hear from him. When Moshe Rabbenu heard this he became upset. He told them that their request had weakened him. He wanted Klal Yisroel to achieve a level that would allow them to receive the Torah directly from Hashem. At the end of this episode Hashem did not agree with Moshe Rabbenu but instead with Klal Yisroel! What was Moshe Rabbenu thinking? How is it possible that he didn’t know that it was too much for Klal Yisroel to bear? A leader is certainly in touch with his flock.

Rebbe explains when Klal Yisroel was with Moshe Rabbenu; Moshe Rabbenu lifted them to his level. This enabled them to receive the Torah on Moshe's level, directly from Hashem. The Yidden said that while this was true, this elevated state was not who they really were, and they wanted to receive the Torah on their level according to their mind, being, and circumstances. Hashem agreed with Klal Yisroel that the Torah would have deeper impact if it was internalized on their level according to their circumstances. That’s what Moshe Rabbenu conveyed when he told the Yidden that they weakened him. Now, because of their choice, instead of lifting them to his level he now needed bring himself into their situation, on their level in order to be an intermediary between them and Hashem.

After Yom Kippur Moshe Rabbenu taught Klal Yisroel the Torah. Moshe Rabbenu felt that he was the only one who could teach it with its full impact because he had received it directly from Hashem. As the Torah says, the Shechina spoke through him. Yisro saw Klal Yisroel in their homes. He saw the dichotomy between their normal lives and the level that they achieved while together with Moshe Rabbenu. From Yisro’s perspective Moshe Rabbenu should not be the one to adjudicate their disputes, except for rare exceptions. His reasoning was that their situation needed to be addressed strictly according on their actual level, not a state they achieved only while in the presence of Moshe Rabbenu. Therefore he recommended that he create a judicial system.

In truth at the moment that they stood in the presence of Moshe Rabbenu all the extraneous external or peripheral aspects of their issue melted away, revealing only the essential core issue at hand. Because of this Moshe Rabbenu was able to penetrate the core of their situation with absolute truth and adjudicate their arguments to rectify their issues in a permanent and everlasting manner. Even a child realized when he stood in front of Moshe Rabbenu that it was different. Therefore Moshe Rabbenu was right on a level beyond that which Yisro saw or perceived.

The reason that Hashem nevertheless agreed with Yisro is because Moshe Rabbenu wasn’t going to be bringing Klal Yisroel into Eretz Yisroel, something that Moshe Rabbenu had not yet been told by Hashem. Therefore, if they were only going to learn directly from Moshe Rabbenu, later on they would be lost without him when new challenges would arise. The reason is because they would have only absorbed the Torah from Moshe Rabbenu, something that they would be unable to achieve without him present. Since Moshe Rabbenu thought he was entering the land, he would be there and therefore there would not be a need for anything additional. Therefore Hashem agreed with Yisro in order to insure that the Torah would continue. Nevertheless Moshe Rabbenu had to be the one to appoint the judges, they needed his smicha. This was so that the later generations would have achieved their abilities to judge through Moshe. Moshe endowed Klal Yisroel through his smicha, and that assured that even today there is a koach of Moshe Rabbenu to judge and lead according to way that Hashem gave the Torah to Moshe.

The Rebbe required that all Chassidim have a Rav and a Mashpia. The Rebbe gives the koach through them that Chassidim should live in the way the Rebbe leads.

On Erev Shabbos (Erev Yud Shevat), we light a Yartzeit candle at home before lighting Shabbos candles. It is also customary to give extra Tzedokah on Erev Shabbos to support the Rebbe’s institutions, write a Pan, and visit the Ohel, if possible. We also light the candles by the amud before Shabbos.

On Shabbos, it is customary for men to get an aliyah, to review portions of the Maamar Bossi Legoni after each of the tefillos, and to learn a perek of Tanya before Shacharis and after Mincha. Mishnayos are also said, as by any yahrzheit.

For more information and the directives of the Rebbe for this day
Please refer to the “Chabad Chodesh” on our website:www.chabadofla.com/Chodesh

In this week’s parsha the Torah says that Moshe Rabbeinu took the bones of Yosef HaTzaddik when the Bnei Yisroel left Mitzrayim. The proper place to mention this seems to be in last week’s parsha, Bo when the Exodus is discussed. Why is it mentioned here in parshas Bashalach which speaks of the travel in the Midbar?

Because of this question the Rebbe asks the following questions about what this teaches us in daily life. What does the fact that Moshe was the one who took Yosef HaTzaddik’s bones teach? Secondly, what does placement in the Torah of this by their travels in the Midbar teach?

To better understand we first need to ask about the term “bones”. Isn’t the term “aron-coffin” a more appropriate and respectful term than “bones”? The Rebbe explains that the word “atzmos-bones” in Hebrew means essence. (Just like by a person, their bones are their essential structure) When Moshe Rabbeinu took the aron of Yosef HaTzaddik, he took his essence with them. Rachel Emeinu, when naming him Yosef explained the meaning; ,to add a another son , a Ben Acher. The Tzemach Tzedek explained that Yosef had the power to take an individual who was ‘acher’ different, estranged from Hashem, and reveal in him his ability to be a ‘Ben-a child’ of Hashem. If Rachel had just wanted a son she would not have added the word ‘acher-another’. Passing through the desert, Moshe Rabbeinu strengthened each and every Jew, to overcome his mentality of servitude from Mitzrayim, and brought that person them to identify as a Ben to Hashem.

If the Yidden would have gone directly to Eretz Yisroel they would not have needed that extra strength. Since, however, they needed to traverse the desert; a place of scorpions and snakes, a place of spiritual danger there remained a possibility that someone may not be able to endure the prolonged challenge. For this reason Moshe Rabbeinu the leader of Klal Yisroel needed to take the bones, the essence of Yosef, to help those individuals. And that is why it is mentioned in parshas Bashalach, not parshas Bo because they were going through the desert and not yet in Israel.

So too in this protracted and difficult galus we live in, filled with challenges to connect with Hashem, to be a Ben. We take strength from our ‘secret weapon’, from our connection with the essence of Yosef the ability to be a Ben, and to help others to be a Ben as well and to yosif-add them to Klal Yisroel.

In connection with Yud Shevat, the Previous Rebbe’s first name is Yosef. The entire Nesius of the Previous Rebbe was characterized by this concept of ‘making from another a Ben’. His Shluchim in Communist Russia, in America and all over the world carried out their Shlichus with the power of the Mishaleiach- the one who sent them, the Yosef of the generation to make Tzivos Hashem and lead Bnei Yisroel out of galus upright with an upheld head.

One of the Rebbe’s Shluchim, my Father who’s Yartzeit is the 8th of Shevat, escaped Europe in 1946. He lost his entire family to the Nazi’s, yemach shemam. He knew that his way of life was to attach to the Rebbe. A tzetel was found after his passing in which he wrote to the Previous Rebbe a request for guidance to clarify his purpose in America and a bracha for success in its fulfillment. Soon thereafter he was appointed as a Shadar (a Shlucha d’Rabbana- an Emissary of the Rebbe) to travel all over America. The purpose of his shlichus was to find Jews spread out in little towns all across America. He was to reach out to them and make them into a Ben to Hashem.

Although he met and touched the lives of hundreds of people, he always felt that he was only a Shliach of the Rebbe.

Mr. & Mrs. Milton Goodman in honor of their 67th wedding anniversary. May they have many more happy years together.

The Raichik family for the yahrtzeit of their father Harav Menachem Shmuel Dovid ben R’ Shimon Halevi ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.

Together With:Rabbi & Mrs. Simcha Frankel for the yahrtzeit of Rabbi Frankel's grandfather R' Pinchas Feigenbaum ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya. Also in honor of the engagement of their daughter Mushky to Sruly Karasik. May they be zoche to build a binyan adi ad metoch harchava.

The kiddush for the early minyan is sponsored by:

The Mispallim in the early minyan in honor of the birth of triplets to the mashpia - Rabbi Zali Munitz. May he have much nachas from them and bring them up letorah ulechupa ulemasim tovim.

Yossi Nathanson in honor of the birth of his nephew. May he grow up letorah ulechupa ulemasim tovim.

The Torah relates how Hashem commanded the Bnei Yisroel not to act similarly to those who lived in Mitzrayim. Mitzrayim is called “ervas haaretz- a most indecent place”. The Rambam comments that Mitzrayim was an immoral place. When Avraham descended to Mitzrayim he was legitimately concerned for Sarah’s welfare due to the people’s lack of morals and values. They did not safeguard marital morality. There was a complete breakdown in what we consider social norms. When makos bechoros struck, all the Mitrzriyim feared. This was because the fact that one woman, through immoral relationships had many fathers to her children. While in a regular home there is usually one first born, in Egyptian homes there were multiple bechoros, one for each father.

The entire decay of their society had one thematic underpinning. It was “lo yadati es Hashem- they did not recognize Hashem”. As long as their perspective precludes a recognition of Hashem the norm becomes to do whatever feels good in that moment.

In America and in the western culture we have become accustomed to seeing a decay of morals and ethics that has eerie similarity to those that plagued the culture of Mitzrayim.

Laws and policies override considerations of morals and ethics over and over again in order to insure people’s inalienable rights to do what feels good to them regardless to the adverse effect on society as a whole. The educational system in America had eradicated mention of Hashem. The government has overturned the military policy of ‘don’t ask don’t tell’ to allow individuals who marry within their own gender to be public about their choices. The whole discussion is ridiculous. What place do these things have within the military establishment whose job it is to protect the country?

In the court system we see an inversion of morals and ethics as well. Why is killing at times treated more lieniently than embezzling? Someone who commits murder might serve a sentence of fifteen or ten years, then it gets reduced to seven before being commuted to less, and the crime of embezzlement gets at times a life sentence! Has money become more important than life itself?

Hashem commanded the Bnei Yisroel not to act as the Egyptians. The greatness of the Jewish people is that they kept their way of life in Mitzrayim. Their merit was that they did not change their style of dress, their use of language or their names. They emerged from Mitzrayim with their family life intact.

The Torah relates by makos bechoros; “Avarti b’eEretz Mitzrayim-Hashem said that He passed through the land of Mitzrayim, and as it states in the Haggadah “Lo al yedei Malach- not with an Angel…” The Rebbe asked why Hashem needed to do it Himself and why did He not send a Malach. The Rebbe explained that the purpose was to save Klal Yisroel. Every Jew was told to stay at home and eat the Korban Pesach. They were told that the Mitzvah would protect them. What if the Jew happened to be in the house of a Mitzri? He would be saved. What if a Mitzri was in the house of a Jew? He would not be saved. The reason for this is because the plague worked according to the person, not the location per se. Hashem needed to protect the person who did not care to be careful to be in a Jewish home. A Malach can only follow directions, and skip a Jewish home with blood on the doorpost. A Jew who did not listen to Moshe and left and visited a non Jewish home, put himself in danger. Therefore Hashem had to personally protect him “v’avarti- and I will pass”.

What is a Mitzri doing in the house of a Jew on Pesach? What is he doing there? He doesn’t belong there! The reason he’s there is because he was invited by the Jew. Because this Mitzri was an elite firstborn, this Jew could resist the temptation to be honored by his presence and invited him in. Hashem passed by and took care of him.

The lesson here is twofold. First, we should not say that it is not our job to go after renegade Jews. Hashem came down to ervas haaretz to save such a Jew, so should we. Secondly, we should not loose ourselves in our environment and end up with the Mitzri within our own home. We have to be proud that we are Yidden and not loose ourselves or be intimidated by their influence.

We need to recapture our Jewish sensitivity and sensibility that we are proud that to be Yidden and Chassidim that live in the light of the Torah. Hashem gave us morals and ethics. Instead of desiring the empty and vain examples of glamour from the galus culture, we receive our answers and gain inner strength that come from closeness to Hashem. L’kol Bnei Yisroel haya ohr b’moshvosam- for all the Jewish people there was light in their dwellings. It is with that light that we will go to greet Moshiach now!